How would you define a car manufacturer’s “models”? We are accustomed to thinking of a model as a production run of identical cars, like Toyota’s Camry, or Ford’s Lincoln Continental. Ok, models can undergo facelifts and whatnot, but mostly we expect one 1990 Camry to look like another 1990 Camry. Not so with the Fiat 8V. This car didn’t even start with a body design. It started with an engine – Fiat’s first and only V8. Dante Giacosa designed the 2.0-liter, 70° alloy eight, delivered with dual Webers and capable of 105 hp, destined for a luxury sedan that Fiat hoped to sell to America. But the little engine was no match for the prototype sedan: the car’s weight rendered performance underwhelming. Giacosa convinced Fiat to use the engine – now that development was a sunk cost – in a sports car. The Fiat 8V was born, cobbled from a Siata chassis, a suspension donated by the 1100, and a body penned in-house by Luigi Rapi. Well, one 8V was born. More arrived, but with each new assembly, flourishes were added here, a grille was changed there. Things got really confusing when carrozzeria purchased the chassis and made their own versions: now we had versions from Zagato, Boano, Ghia… 8Vs are like a box of See’s Assorted Chocolates – all different, but all chocolates. Here at RM Sotheby’s, awaiting its turn at auction in Munich on October 18th, is this 1954 Fiat 8V Series II, eligible for the Mille Miglia and just about any other event you’d like to enter. (No one is going to care that it doesn’t wear its original paint.) The estimate is €700,000 – €800,000. Thanks as always, Araknid78 – appreciate the tip!

This example retains its numbers-matching engine, with those two Webers peeking out. The Tipo 104.000 wasn’t powerful enough to put on the track, but Giacosa soon improved his product, raising the compression ratio and cramming triple Webers into this tiny engine bay. The Tipo 104.006 could rev to 6000 rpms and generate 125 hp. Only 114 8Vs were made, but many were campaigned, establishing the model as a viable racer in the under-2.0-liter class. This car’s current owner drove it in the 2014 and 2015 Mille Miglia. The car is accompanied by vintage photos, a FIVA passport, manuals, and a tool kit with jack.

Aside from the jewel of an engine and its striking sheet metal, the Italians provided the 8V with one of the most exquisite interiors ever presented to mankind. The slotted seats, the subtle pattern on the headliner and sunvisors, aluminum interior handles, and just look at this gauge – who dreams up all these details? And let’s consider Fiat’s position back in the day: it was a purveyor of tiny conveyances, barely large enough to shelter four people. Performance and luxury were ceded to other makers, like Lancia. So to stumble upon an 8V, all dressed up, is doubly impressive.

This car has been repainted from its original metallic green – remnants of the old paint can be seen in the engine bay. Other than a gentle overall patina affecting the switch knobs, carpets, and body, it’s exceptionally nice despite the passage of seventy years. But no matter how endearing, this car cannot escape a discussion of value. Investigating its chassis number uncovers a prior attempt at a sale, here at Gooding Christie’s August 2025 Monterey Auction, where it carried a very aggressive estimate. It did not sell. Perhaps Gooding was benchmarking to the several prior sales stretching back to 2011, of examples built by outside carrozzeria. These routinely sell for well over $1 million. I would have used this example, from Rapi’s pen – very similar to our subject car. It sold in 2022 for $550k at Monterey. We’ll see, in just a few days, whether the consignor has received better advice this time around.